Insert apparatus for converting valves

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for converting a valve used in tapping fluid from kegs from one having a tapping port on its end wall to one having an extending member with a tapping port therein and a washout passage in the end wall by removing a portion of the old valve and attaching an insert piece with the washout passage therein and a valve member having an extending portion.

Umted States Patent 1 13,565,102

[72] Inventors R. Ellsworth Doremus [56] References Cited Clifton; UNITED STATES PATENTS fis Dmms 2,261,269 11/1941 Mohr 251/367 pp No' 669,111 iorma et al 137/625.46X uger 137/625.46X [221 PM 20,1967 496 301 4/1893 Farrington 137/323x 1); 2m flit- 52 F c 2,665,675 1/1954 Sheppard .1: 251/359x 1 3,035,603 5/1962 Jamieson etal. 137/323 3,107,895 10/1963 Vogeli 251/359 Primary Examiner-William Ft ODea Assistant ExaminerDavid R. Matthews Attorney-Darby & Darby [54] INSERT APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING VALVES 2 cums 6 Drawing Figs ABSTRACT: A method and apparatus for converting a valve [52] US. Cl. 137/323, used in tapping fluid from kegs from one having a tapping port l37/3l5', 25 1/14 9.6 on its end wall to one having an extending member with a [51] hit. Fl6k 43/00 tapping port therein and a washout passage in the end wall by [50] Field of Search 137/269, removing a portion of the old valve and attaching an insert 315, 323, 625.46; 251/359, 367, 149.6; 29/ 157.1, piece with the washout passage therein and a valve member 401 having an extending portion.

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PATENlEn Fiazalsn INVEKNTORS R. ELLSWORTH ooaemus R Syd CHARD E. DOREMUS ATTORNE S 1 INSERT APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING VALVES In our prior U.S. Pat. No. 2,992,654, which is assigned to the same assignee, a valve is disclosed which has particular utility in tapping fluids, such as beer, for a keg. The valve of that patent has a single tapping port in its end wall which is opened and closed by a rotatable, disc type, valve member. It is usually located at the bottom of the keg and the fluid is withdrawn through it by pressurizing the keg, usually through another valve of the same general type.

There have recently come into greater use valves which are capable of drawing more beverage from the keg. These valves have a valve member with a portion which extends beyond the confines of the body and has a tapping passage therein. Since the extending portion protrudes further down into the keg, more of the beverage can be withdrawn. As is known, valves with such extending portions are also usually provided with an arrangement for washing out the passage of the extending portion when the valve is closed. Several forms of washout configurations are disclosed in the prior US. Pat. No.3,1 15,149 to Tonna et al. and in our copending application Ser. Nos. 545,364 new U.S. Pat. No. 3,476,138 and 603,519 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,431,936, these applications being assigned to the same assignee. I

Valves with extendingportions cost substantially more to manufacture than a prior art valve of the type shown in our aforesaid patent where no such extending portion is used. A large part of the cost, however, is not in making the valve member with the extending portion but in forming the body and providing it with a washout arrangement. Because of the cost factor it would of course be desirable, if it is more economical, to convert valves without extending portions into valves having such extending portions. The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for accomplishing this.

In accordance with our invention the end wall of an existing valve, such as of the type shown in our aforesaid patent, is cut off to expose the interior of the valve body. An insert piece having a washout passage is then attached to the top valve body and a valve member having an extending portion is fastened to the body to complete the conversion.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for converting valves to have an extending portion and a washout passage.

A further object is to provide a method for converting valves having a tapping port on the end wall of the body to a valve having an extending portion, which is used for the tapping port, and a washout passage in the body.

An additional object is to provide an insert piece having a tapping port and washout passage which is used for converting valves.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reference to the following specification and annexed drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a converted valve;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view taken in section of an assembled converted valve;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a portion of the prior art valve which has been cut away to receive the insert member;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views of the valve of FIG. 2 taken along lines 4-4 and 5-5, respectively; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of a prior an valve to be converted.

Referring first to FIG. 6, a prior art valve 1 having a body 10 is shown. The body I. has a flange 12 which fits within a fixture on the keg (not shown) with which the valve is to be used. The valve 1 has a valve member 14 fastened to the circular upper wall which has a port 15. A sealing disc 16 is located between the valve member 14 and the end wall of the valve body. This sealing disc may be of TEFLON and it is secured to the ,valve member for rotation therewith, preferably in accordance with our aforesaid patent. As shown, the valve 1 has only a single tapping port 18 which lies within the confines of the valve body. Thus, only fluid above the level of the port 18 in the keg can be extracted. Port 18 is opened and closed as the valve brought into alignment wi member 14 is rotated by a suitable tapping device which is inserted within the valve body from the outside of the keg.

In accordance with the subject invention the valve I of FIG. 6 is to be converted into a valve having a valve member with an extensible tapping portion, and a passage for washing out this extending portion when the valve is closed. As the first step, the end wall of the valve 1 is removed at points 20-20 exposing the interior of the body, as shown in FIG. 3. This is accomplished by any suitable cutting member such as a saw, grinding wheel, etc.

After the end wall is removed an insert piece 24 is attached to the open end of the body 10 at the point 20 such as by welding, soldering, etc. This is shown in greater detail in FIG. 2 where the welding or solder fillet is indicated at 26. The insert piece 24 is of generally circular shape with a diameter approximately equal to that of the body at point 20 and has a central opening 27 through which passes a headed bolt 29. Bolt 29 has a pair of flats 29a on opposing walls. As shown in FIGS. 2-4 the insert piece 24 has an arcuate washout passage or slot 30 formed therein between its top and bottom walls and a drain hole 32 in the top wall which communicates with slot 30. An elliptically shaped tapping port 34 is also formed through the insert piece 24 and, as shown in FIG. 4, a depressed track 36 is provided around a portion of its periphery. The top wall 25 of the insert piece is otherwise smooth to provide a bearing surface for the sealing disc of the valve member. The purpose of the track 36 is described in greater detail below. Insert piece 24 can be made by any suitable process, such as by casting it with the various passages 27, 30 and 34 and track 36. Alternatively, the piece can be cast with passages 27 and 34 and track 36 and the washout passage 30 cut or milled into it. This can be done before or after the insert piece is attached to the body.

To complete the conversion a valve member 40 is provided which has an extending tapping portion 42 with a passage 44 therethrough which communicates with a right angle outlet 46. A sealing disc 50, preferably of TEF LON, is also provided which has ribs 52 thereon which interlock with corresponding grooves 41 in the bottom wall of the valve member 40. This interlocking arrangement is described in detail in our aforesaid patent.

The valve member 40 and the disc 50 are positioned so that an outlet port 56 on the disc is aligned'with the outlet passage 46 of the valve member. The threaded end 62 of bolt 29 passes through the aperture 27 of the insert piece and central apertures 45 and 55 in the valve member 40 and sealing disc 50. A washer 63 is positioned between the head of the bolt 29 and a boss 28 the inner face of the insert piece 24. A packing washer 65 is provided between the sealing disc 50 and the valve member 40, this washer 65 resting in an annular depression 47 in the inner face of the wall of the valve member and a similar depression (not shown) in the sealing disc. The assembly is completed by a packing washer 66a which fits within a raised boss 66 on the outer face of the valve member, two washers 67 and 68 and a pair of nuts 69 and 70. The nuts 69 and 70 are tightened down to secure the desired pressure between the valve member 40 and the end wall 25.

A downwardly extending post 43, which rides in the track 36 of the valve body insert piece 24, is also provided on the valve member 40. The sealing disc 50 also has a peripheral cutout portion 57 to accommodate the post 43, this cutout portion 57 corresponding to a similar peripheral cutout 48 on the valve member. The sealing disc 50 rotates with the valve member 40.

In operation, with the valve assembled as shown in FIG. 2, a tapping faucet is moved into the valve body to engage the head of the bolt 29. When the valve member 40 is rotated by the bolt 29 to the open position shown in FIG. 2 the outlet passage 46 of the valve member, and the corresponding passage 56 of the sealing disc which is aligned therewith, are the tapping port 34 of the insert piece 24. When the valve member is rotated by about to the closed position outlet passage 46 of the extending portion 42 is brought into alignment with the drain hole 32 so that any cleaning fluid pumped into the keg enters the passage 44 and drains out through the hole 32 and the washout passage 30.

it should be apparent from considering FIG. 4 that the post 43 on thevalve member and track36 on the insert piece cooperate to prevent the valve member 40 from being assembled to the body in an improper position. That is, the valve member 40 cannot be installed 180 turned from the position shown. Therefore, the outlet passage 46 is always aligned with the outlet port 34 when the valve is open. The post and track also limit the turning of the valve member to approximately 90, that is, the arc of the slot.

When the valve is open the peripheral cutout portions 48 and 57 of the valve member and disc lie on the top wall 25 of the insert piece out to the inner edge of the track 36. Since there is no overhang above the edge of the track, the seat material is not scored or skived when the valve member is rotated.

It should be apparent that the present invention provides an economical way of converting valves without an extending portion on the valve member to one having such an extending portion and a washout passage. All that is required are the operations of cutting off the end of the old valve member, fastening the insert piece thereto and then attaching the valve member. it has been found that this can be done at a cost which is less than the cost of making a complete new valve.

It should be understood that other types of washout arrangements can be used, for example, those shown in the aforesaid Tonna U.S. Pat. 3,115,149 and in U.S. Pat. 3,279,493 to Zurit et al. It is only necessary to modify the insert piece and valve member accordingly to obtain the same washout configuration and/or valve seat holding arrangement. In the case of both of these patents, and also with the embodiment described herein, it is not always necessary to remove the entire end wall of the wall. Instead, only a portion can be sliced away leaving a reduced height section to which is attached the insert piece.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above it will be understood that these embodiments are illustrative only and the invention is to be limited solely by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An insert piece for use in converting a valve having a hollow sleeve, said insert piece comprising a circular disc shaped piece of rigid material of a thickness substantially less than the height of the sleeve for attachment to an end of the valve sleeve to fonn an end wall for the valve, said insert piece formed with an outlet port therethrough offset from its center and a washout passage which is spaced from the outlet port and blocked from communication therewith and which extends only partly through the thickness of said insert piece out to the peripheral edge thereof, said insert piece having a hole through the center thereof to accommodate a rotatable spindie.

2. An insert piece as set forth in claim 1 wherein said washout passage includes a slot formed between the upper and lower faces of the insert piece and a hole from the upper face communicating with the slot. 

1. An insert piece for use in converting a valve having a hollow sleeve, said insert piece comprising a circular disc shaped piece of rigid material of a thickness substantially less than the height of the sleeve for attachment to an end of the valve sleeve to form an end wall for the valve, said insert piece formed with an outlet port therethrough offset from its center and a washout passage which is spaced from the outlet port and blocked from communication therewith and which extends only partly through the thickness of said insert piece out to the peripheral edge thereof, said insert piece having a hole through the center thereof to accommodate a rotatable spindle.
 2. An insert piece as set forth in claim 1 wherein said washout passage includes a slot formed between the upper and lower faces of the insert piece and a hole from the upper face communicating with the slot. 